Machine for sealing packages.



F. M. PETERS & H. H. HUNGERFORD.

MACHINE FOR SEALING PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1907.

997,580. Patented July 11,1911 A F. 1 5 SHEETSSHEET 1.

F. M. PETERS 61: H. H. HUNGERFQRD. MACHINE FOR SEALING PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED 11110. 4, 1907.

Patented July 11, 1911 5 SHEBTS SHEET 2.

E. M; PETERS an H. H. HUNGBRFORD.

- MACHINE FORSEALING PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1907.

Patented July 11, 1911 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F. M. & H. H. HUNGERFORD. MACHINE FOR SEALING PACKAGES. APPLICATION FILED DEG- Q, 1907.

997,580. V Y Patented July 11,1911.

.5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i ii 2 31 1 F. M. PETERS & H. H. HUNGERFORD.

MACHINE FOR SEALING PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED 1120.4, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED strawnnr OFFICE.

FRANK M. PETERS AND HENRY H. HUNGERFORD, OF CHICAGO,

HUNGERFORD ASSIGNOR TO SAID PETERS.

ILLINOIS; SAID MACHINE FOR SEALING PACKAGES.

Original application filed May 24, 1905,

To' all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that we, FRANK M. PETERS and HENRY H. HUNGERFORD, citizens of the United States, both residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful'Improvements in- Machines for Sealing Packages, of which the fo-llowing.is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to machines for ap-.

plying seals to cartons and other packages, and constitutes a division of an application filed by us on the 24th day of May, 1905, on a machine for wrapping and sealing packages, Serial No. 262,065. r

In its principal contemplated application the mechanismof the present invention is designed to apply a pasted seal to one or both ends of a previously wrapped box or carton so as to securely unite the end flaps or folds of the wrapper and eitectively seal the latter in position on the box or carton. It will be evident, however, that the mechanism of the invention is equally well adaptedto the application of seals or labels'to boxes,

packages or cartons, irrespective of whether or not the latter have previously received a wrapper or cover, and also irrespective of whether or not, where such a wrapper has been previously applied, the end flaps or folds are secured by the seal or label applied by the present mechanism or otherwise.

The general object of the invention is to provide a. simple, reliable and highly eflicient mechanism for the purpose stated, and one in which the extent of travel of the seal or label-carrier between the hopper or other containing device and the article to which it is applied is reduced to a minimum.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel features which we will now proceed to describe, and will'then more particularly point out in the claims.

Our invention will be readily understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the.

best mechanical embodiment thereof which we have as yet d'evised, and in which,

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view, in the plane of the sealing mechanism, of the package wrapping and sealing 'machine in whichqve have embodied our present improvements.. 2 is an enlarged sectional Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 262,065. Divided and this application filed December 4, Serial No. 405,118. I

Patented July 11, 1911.

elevation of the principal parts of the sealing mechanism, showing the seal-carrier in connection with the lower end of the seal hopper. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the other extreme position of the seal-carrier wherein it is applying a seal or label to theend of a package. v Fig. 4 is a rear elevational View, partly in section, of the seal hopper and the seal-carrier guide. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an elevation, and Fig. 7 a top plan View, of the mechanism for producing and controlling the air suction in the seal-carrier. Figs. 8' and 9 are, respectively, elevational and top plan details of parts ,of the mechanism for applying paste to the seal or label,

while in transit between the hopper and .the package.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate a pair-0f parallel vertical side-frame members of a package-wrapping and sealing machine such as is disclosed in our pending application, Serial No. 262,065, hereinabove referred to, and of which the present invention constitutes a division. These side-frame members are suitably connected and rigidly spaced apart and constitute the principal supporting elements or" field of action of the sealor label-applying devices constituting the subject-matter of the present application. This chute has formed in the side walls thereof, opposite the sealapplying devices, openings indicated at 4 (Fig. 2), through which the seal-carrier ops erates in applying the seal. In this connection we may state that we shall hereinafter refer to the mechanism forming the subjectseal-applying mechanism, meaning thereby a mechanism whereby an adhesive seal, whether plain'or carrying a label, is applied .matter of this application as a sealing or I consist each of the following parts and to the folded end flaps of the outer wrapper of the carton tothereby seal said end flaps or folds against spreading or opening; but it will be readily understood that the mechanism is equally applicable and efficient to apply a pasted label to a box or carton, whether such label possesses a sealing function in connection with a wrapped package, or is simply applied as a mere label to a naked or unwrapped package or carton.

. The seal-applying devices of our present invention, which, in a machine of the character 7 herein disclosed are commonly employed in duplicate, one on each side of the machine, for the purpose of applying a seal to each end of. the package or carton,

mechanisms. 5 designates a bracket secured to the outer face of the main sideframe member of the machine, this bracket supporting on its outer end a seal-hopper 6, said hopper being pivotally mounted thereon at its outer side by a pair of hinges 7. The rear wall of the hopper has a depending extension 6*, between which and a crossframe member of the bracket are interposed a pair of coil springs 8, which normally tip or tilt the hopper, as shown in Fig. 3. The depending projection 6 also carries an adjustable threaded contact-pin 9. In the upper ends of the parallel side walls of the bracket 5 are formed upper and lower groove guides 10 and 11, respectively. In and between the upper guides 10 is mounted a horizontal rod 12 having rollers 12*, which rod carries a seal-carrier in the nature of a suction-box 13 having a perforated face of substantially the form and dimensions of the open lower end of the hopper 6 and of the seal to be applied. The interior of this suction box communicates through a nipple 1 1 and hose 15 with an air-exhausting device hereinafter described. The lower guide grooves 11 are engaged by rollers 16 on the ends of a rod 16 carried by a pair of downwardly extendin arms 17 that are rigid with the stem of the suction box 13;

- said guide grooves 11 having at a point intermediate their ends a'downwardly offset bend 11 Secured to the inner side of one of the parallel bracket members directly under the ofiset bend 11 of the lower guide groove is a block 11, which block has a notch 11 cut in its upper edge directly beneath the center of the bend 11*. This notch is engaged by a depending tooth 17 The suction box is actuatedlatter is connected to a lever 21 fulcrumed at 22 to a bracket 23 on the main side-frame,

said lever being connected at its upper end with the shaft 12 through a link 24. It will be seen that the arms 17 connecting the rods or shafts 12 and 16 of the suction box are of such a length relatively to the dlstance between the longitudinal median lines of the upper and lower groove guides 10 and 11 that the suction box, when traveling through the parallel portions of said guides, 1s necessarily disposed with its face either horizontal or vertical. lVhen the suction box 1s engaging the hopper, as in Fig. 2, it is malntained upright or with its operative face horizontal, and remains in this position during its inward travel until the rollers 16" drop into the offsets 11 of the lower grooves, which permits the turning of said suction box through an angle of 90 degrees by reason of the engagement; of the tooth 17 with the notch 11, thereby bringing its seal-carrying face to vertical position just prior to the application of the seal to the packageor carton. It will thus be seen that the only bodily travel of the suction box isa straight horizontal travel to efiect its proper registration with the hopper and end wall of the package. As the, suction box returns from the package to the hopper, a lug- 13 on its rear side strikes the inner end of the contact-pin 9, thereby tilting the hopper to vertical position and effecting the registration of its lower end with the mouth of the suction box for the purpose of withdrawing'the lowermost seal in said hopper. As the suction box starts to move away from the hopper, the springs 8 tilt the hopper so as to carry its lower end away. from the mouth of the suction box by a relative angular movement, thereby preventing any tendency on the part of the suction box to withdraw more than one seal at a time.

The suction effect is produced and con trolled by the following mechanism. Referring to Figs. 1, 6 and 7, 25 designates an air-exhaust pump, driven by a pitman 26 and disk crank 27 from a transverse shaft 28 suitably journaled in the. lower portion of the machine frame. One end of said pump is in free communication with a transversely extending pipe 29, to the opposite ends of which latter are connected the flexible tubes or hose 15. In the upper side of the pipe 29 is a vent opening that is normally covered by a cap or valve 30 of rubber, felt, or the like, said valve being hung from one end of a lever 31 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a bracket 32. The-same end of said lever has a laterally projecting pin 33 that overlies one arm 34 of a-bell-crank lever, the opposite arm 35 of which engages, through a roller 36, the face of a cam-disk 37 on shaft 18. Acompression spring 38 between the other arm of oeaaso said lever 31 and the upper surface of the pipe 29 normally tends to maintain said lever in a osition in which the vent en the seal as the latter is carried from the hop-,

per to the end of the package by the following mechanism, which, of course, is in duplicate on both sides of the'machine, where such seal is applied to both ends of the packa e. m ounted a paste-box 40 carrying a pick-up roll 41 and a distributing roll 42. A-pasteapplying roll 43 is loosely mounted on a shaft 44 carried by and between a pair of bent arms 45 pivoted at 46, said arms being actuated in an upward movement, from a cam 47 on the shaft 18, said cam peripherally engaging a roller 48 carried by the inner end of a lever 49 pivoted at 50 to a bracket 51, the opposite end of said lever being connected to the arms 45 through a longitudinally adjustable link 52. The pasteapplying roll 43, as shown in the plan view, Fig. 9, has a central annular groove 43, in the under side of which lies a wire strip 53, said Wire strip being-connected at its ends 85 to a pair of transverse rods 54 and 55 carried by and between the arms 45; the function of this wire being to prevent the seal from adhering to the surface of the pasting roll,

as it Wipes overthe latter. The paste rolls,

are driven from a countershaft 56 (Fig.8) suitably journaled in the machine frame through a bevel pinion 57 on said shaft engaging a bevel pinion 58 on one end of a way shaft 59, the opposite end of said wayshaft carrying a gear 60 Which, through a pair of intermediate idler gears 61 and 62, drives a gear 63 on the shaft of the roll 42, a gear 64 on the opposite end of said shaft engaging and driving a gear 65 on the shaft of the pick-up roll 41. Fast with the paste.- applying roll 43 is a gear 66 adapted to engage the gear 64 on the return movement of the paste-applying roll whereby to rotate said roll in contact with the distributing roll 42 to apply afresh vre-surfacing of paste to said paste-applying roll. The cam 47 is so set that its that side engages the roller 48, permitting the roll 43 to drop into contact with the seal carried on the face of the suction box, as the latter travels beneath said roll from the seal hopper toward the end of a package.

The specific construction of the seal-contaming hopper 6 constitutes no part of our 65 present invention, excepting as to its pivotal On a pair of transverse bars 39 is manner of mounting; but as herein shown it is of a known type of label-hopper which is open at both ends and in which the seals; or labels are supported with capacity for the usual abstraction through the lower end by 70 depending adjustable springarms 67 (F1g. 4) disposed centrally of the vertical walls thereof. 4

The operation .has to a considerable extent been indicated in connection with the foregoing description of the mephanism. The hopper having been filled with a stack of seals or labels, the packages to be sealed or labeled-are fed in close succession through the package-chute 3, each being halted 0pposite the openings 4 in the side walls of the chute long enough for the application of the seals thereto. The continuous rotation of the shaft 18, through the connections therefrom to the suction box and tothe paste-applying roll causes the suction hopper to abstract the lowermost seal from the hopper, carry it inwardly, during which inward 'movement it receives an application of paste from the roll 43, and press it so a ainst the vertical end wall of thepackage, wliich'latter is indicated in position'at 68 in Fig. 3. Simultaneously with the pressing. of the seal against the end of a packagethe' a suction in the suction box is intermitted bythe raising of the valve 30, whereupon the suction box returns for another seal, the suction effect being restored during such return travel of the suction box by the closing of the vent by the valve30. It will thus be '100" observed that the bodily movement of the i suction box is a simple straight movement along the shortest path between the hopper and the package, the suction box be ng shifted'angularly from horizontal to vertical, and vice versa, during its travel and without any intermission of such travel.

By pivotally mounting the seal hopper so that it has a slightangular movement as the suction box moves'therefrom, there is less 110 liability of two or more seals adhering and.

being withdrawn together throughthe suction effect than where the suction box moves away from the lower end of the hopper substantially in the axial line of the latter, as heretofore.

It is obvious that many and various modifications in the details of construction hereinabove set .forth may be made withoutaffecting the substance of the inventionor deg,

parting from the principle thereof, and hence we do notwish, to be understoodas limiting the invention strictly to the par ticular construct-ion herein described and shown. I We claim: 1. In a machine for sealing packages, the combination with a package holder, of a mechanism for applying a seal to the end i of a package comprising a tilting sealhopper open at its lower delivery end located opposite the end of the package-holder, and a horizontally reciprocating angularly movable-seat-carrier operating between the end of the package and said hopper and automatically registering with the delivery endof the latter on its retu'rnmovement, substantialL-yn as described.

2. In a machine for sealing packages, the

combination with a package-holder, of a.

- mechanism for applying a seal to the end of a package comprising a tilting seal-hopper open at its lower delivery end located opposite the end of the package-holder, a horizontally reciprocating angularly movable seal-carrier operating between the end of hopper open at its delivery end located opposite the end of the package-holder, a

spring normally maintaining said hopper inclined, a horizontally reciprocating sealcarrier angularly movable between two positions in which its suction face is horizontal and vertical operating between the end of the package and said hopper, means to apply suction to said seal-carrier, said seal-carrier on its return movement tilting said hopper against the action of said spring into registration with its suction face,-and means for applying paste to the surface of the seal while held on the face of said seal-carrier, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for sealing packages, the

- combination with a package holder, of a bracket formed with a horizontal slide-way located opposite the ,end of said package holder, a. seal hopper pivotally mounted on said bracket and open at its lower end and provided with a dependingprojection carrying an adjustable contact pin, a. spring normally tending to tilt the lower end of said hopper upwardly, a horizontally reciprocating seal carrier mounted in said slideway, said seal carrier adapted to strike said contact pin near the limit of its outward movement and thereby tilt said seal hopper to substantially vertical position, and automatic means for imparting an angular movement to said seal carrier while travelgaging the lower of .said slide-ways, and

means on said last named slide-way cooperating-with said depending extension of the seal carrier to tilt the latter angularly while traveling between said package holder and seal hopper, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for sealing packages, the combination with a package holder, of a bracket formed with a pair of horizontal slide-ways, one below the other, located opposite the end of said package holder, the lower of said slide-ways being formed with a downwardly oif-set bend between its ends, a seal hopper mounted on the outer end of said bracket and open at its lower end, and a horizontally reciprocating seal carrier mounted to travel in the upper of said slide. ways and provided with an inclined depending extension engaging the lower of said slide-ways. and cooperating with the downwardly off-set bend of the latter to effect an angular movement of said seal carrier while traveling between said package holder and seal hopper, substantially as described. I

' FRANK M. PETERS.

HENRY H. HUNGERFORD.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK G. Goonwm, SAMUEL N. Porn).

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fiveeents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G. 

